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A silhouette of three girls carrying wood on their heads at sunset.

Nozibele nonohuki ntatu Nozibele and the three hairs

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Valentin Mpasi

Language Rukwangali

Level Level 3

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Three girls carrying wood on their heads.

Nare-nare, vakadona vatatu kwa zire va ka tjave yitare.

A long time ago, three girls went out to collect wood.


Three girls swimming in a river.

Eli kwa kere ezuva lyoupyu yipo va zire komukuro va ka zogane. Owo kwadanaukire, kwalirafagwilire ntani kwazogere momema.

It was a hot day so they went down to the river to swim. They played and splashed and swam in the water.


A silhouette of three girls carrying wood on their heads at sunset.

Hararasi, tava nongonona asi lina toko. Owo kwa rwanganene mokutengura komukunda.

Suddenly, they realised that it was late. They hurried back to the village.


Three girls carrying wood on their heads and one girl putting her hand to her neck.

Apa va ka sikire pepi nembo, Nozibele ta likwata monsingo. Age kwa divarere siranda sendi! “Nina kanderere kandindireni nge ko!” yimo ga likwamberere vakwawo zendi. Nye awo tava mutantere asi lina toko unene.

When they were nearly home, Nozibele put her hand to her neck. She had forgotten her necklace! “Please come back with me!” she begged her friends. But her friends said it was too late.


Someone picking up a necklace sitting on a rock near a river.

Nozibele yipo nye ga tengwire gelike komukuro. Ta ka gwana siranda sendi nokugenderera kutengura kembo. Nye tazumbana momundema.

So Nozibele went back to the river alone. She found her necklace and hurried home. But she got lost in the dark.


A girl carrying wood on her head at night time and looking at a lit-up hut.

Ure wosinano sosire tamono site sina kutundilira monzugo zowayi. Ta genderere mokuyuka kooko makura ta ngongora kevero.

In the distance she saw light coming from a hut. She hurried towards it and knocked at the door.


A dog answering the door to a girl carrying wood on her head.

Kwa mu tetwire apa mbwa zazegwilire muvero nokuuyunga asi, “Yisinke ono hara?” “Ame kuna zumbana ntani nina hepa mararo,” yimo gauyungire Nozibele. “Hwilira, ndi ngano tani kuhumu!” yizo mbwa. Nozibele yipo ga zire monda.

To her surprise, a dog opened the door and said, “What do you want?” “I’m lost and I need a place to sleep,” said Nozibele. “Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele went in.


A girl cooking and a dog standing next to her with their arms folded.

Mbwa yipo zauyungire asi, “Terekera nge po!” “Nye ame ana hura apa niterekere rumwe mbwa,” yimo galimbwilire. “Tareka, ndi ngano tani kuhumu!” yizo mbwa. Nozibele yipo ga terekerere mbwa nondja.

Then the dog said, “Cook for me!” “But I’ve never cooked for a dog before,” she answered. “Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele cooked some food for the dog.


A girl making a bed with a dog standing next to her with their arms folded.

Mbwa yipo zauyungire asi. “Zarerange mbete zange!” Nozibele ta limburura asi, “Ana hura apa nizarere rumwe mbwa mbete zazo.” “Zarerange, ndi ngano tani kuhumu!” yizo mbwa. Nozibele yipo ga zere mbete.

Then the dog said, “Make the bed for me!” Nozibele answered, “I’ve never made a bed for a dog.” “Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the dog said. So Nozibele made the bed.


A dog standing next to an open door talking to a girl and pointing.

Nkenye ezuva age ngatereke nokukomba ntani kukuhwira mbwa. “Nozibele, neina tani ka tarere po vakaume zange vamwe. Komba embo, tereka nondja ntani nokukuhwa yininke yange komeho ni ka tengure.”

Every day she had to cook and sweep and wash for the dog. Then one day the dog said, “Nozibele, today I have to visit some friends. Sweep the house, cook the food and wash my things before I come back.”


Someone putting a hair under a bed, behind a door and by a fence.

Tupu za pa ko nyima mbwa, Nozibele ta gusa nohuki momutwe gwendi. Age ta tura ruhuki rumwe monda zombete, ntani rumwe konyima zomuvero, ntani rumwe mohambo. Yipo ga dukire unene moomu ga vhulira.

As soon as the dog had gone, Nozibele took three hairs from her head. She put one hair under the bed, one behind the door, and one in the kraal. Then she ran home as fast as she could.


An angry-looking dog.

Mbwa apa za ka tengwire, azo kwa paparere Nozibele. “Kupi ko ono kara Nozibele?” yimo za karukire. “Nyame ogu, monda zombete,” yimo lyauyungire ruhuki rokuhova. “Nyame ogu, konyima zomuvero,” yimo lyauyungire ruhuki lyauvali. “Nyame ogu, mohambo,” yimo lyauyungire ruhuki rwautatu.

When the dog came back, he looked for Nozibele. “Nozibele, where are you?” he shouted. “I’m here, under the bed,” said the first hair. “I’m here, behind the door,” said the second hair. “I’m here, in the kraal,” said the third hair.


Three boys waving sticks and a girl standing behind them.

Mbwa yipo zanongwenene asi Nozibele ana zi gendi sinaumbanze. Yipo za tokwere kuduka nokuduka ziyuke komukunda. Nye vakurwa vaNozibele wovamati kwandindilire poopo nonomuramu dononene. Mbwa yipo za romokere nokuduka azo kapi va zi mona hena kutunda ezuva olyo.

Then the dog knew that Nozibele had tricked him. So he ran and ran all the way to the village. But Nozibele’s brothers were waiting there with big sticks. The dog turned and ran away and has never been seen since.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Valentin Mpasi
Language: Rukwangali
Level: Level 3
Source: Nozibele and the three hairs from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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